The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Rhiannon
Rhiannon presents herself as Heveydd Hen’s daughter and explains that the marriage arranged for her is against her will. Her arrival gives Pwyll a choice shaped by her own stated intention. When Pwyll’s careless promise threatens their union, she devises a bag that cannot be filled with food. The trap requires Gwawl himself to enter it before Pwyll can close it.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryRhiannon presents herself as Heveydd Hen’s daughter and explains that the marriage arranged for her is against her will. Her arrival gives Pwyll a choice shaped by her own stated intention.
Further detail
LiteraryWhen Pwyll’s careless promise threatens their union, she devises a bag that cannot be filled with food. The trap requires Gwawl himself to enter it before Pwyll can close it.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the narrative in Charlotte Guest’s 1877 collection, including its particular spellings and arrangement of tales. Characters, enchantments and explanations of place names are presented as features of these stories; the translation alone does not establish their historical reality or a single original religious meaning.
Original passages
Source 1
The Mabinogion
give me to a husband against my will. But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for thee, neither will I yetOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 372
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0372
- Original scan leaf
- 373
- Recorded leaf number
- 373
- Current Reader position
- 364
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
seven Cantrevs were put into it, it would be no fuller than before. And after a great deal has been put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will everOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 374
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0374
- Original scan leaf
- 375
- Recorded leaf number
- 375
- Current Reader position
- 366
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Rhiannon’s Unfillable Bag
The small bag that turns Gwawl’s claim into a trap.
Same subject and traditionArianrod
The mother who places conditions on Llew’s name, arms and marriage.
Same subject and traditionArthur in the Mabinogion
The courtly ruler whose household gathers the companions and quests of Guest’s Welsh romances.
Same subject and traditionBranwen
The princess whose marriage alliance becomes the centre of a catastrophe between two islands.